Football sold out at the Qatari World Cup

The World Cup in Qatar has already stirred up much controversy - mainly off the field. The repressive attitude of the Qatari authorities has seen restrictions on expression and assembly. Football in the UK has only just begun to emerge from the dark ages, when it comes to LGBT rights. But in Qatar, same sex relationships are banned. There is also much discrimination towards women. Challenges to the reactionary attitude, such as wearing the multicolour One Love armband have been stamped upon. All credit to football pundit and former player Alex Scott, who made a stand by wearing the One Love armband on a BBC broadcast. There has been much publicity about the treatment of the migrant workers, who built the stadia for the tournament. There was use of forced labour, with thousands losing their lives. Amnesty International has called for some $400 million in compensation and to prevent such abuse in the future. So, why many might ask is the tournament being held in the middle of winter in Qatar - playing havoc with domestic football fixture programmes? The simple answer is money. It seems to be the only thing that matters to the football authorities, from FIFA down. It has been nauseating to see spineless FIFA and the equally supine FA crumble before every Qatari government demand. Neither fans or players really seem to matter. Players have long since been bought and sold like expensive commodities. The football authorities have little sense of care for players - one tournament follows another, if there are any gaps in a year these are filled with meaningless friendlies. It all takes a physical toll. The one thing the players, unlike those who built the stadia, have achieved are decent rewards for their labour. Some are shocked at the amount players are paid but it is they who produce the spectacle people come to see, not the owners, directors or accountants that run football. And in terms of the World Cup it is the players again, who have excelled, with some great matches already. Some have also taken brave stands, such as the Iranian team, who refused to sing their national anthem. The people who should hang their heads in shame are the football authorities. FIFA for giving the World Cup to Qatar, then trying to defend much of the behaviour of that regime. Then there is our own pitiful FA, who fell in line on the armband ban, insisting England players did not wear it. This was a great opportunity missed, remember the huge impact of the black power salute made by John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the 1968 Olympics. FIFA stand to make $5 billion from the tournament. Qatar is an increasingly important energy supplier to the UK. Money talks. If this World Cup is remembered for anything, it will be when football sold its soul to the highest bidder.